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Thursday, February 7, 2013

That was the buring question at the public meeting in St. Stephen concerning the future of the Maxwell Crossing Covered Bridge.The bridge was significantly damaged last month after a car crashed into it.

Department of Transporation representative Alan Kerr says they are currently pursuing an insurance claim, but it would be highly unlikely that insurance would cover the entire cost.

Many payment options were discussed including provincial funding and fundraising.

Kerr estimated the cost of repairing the bridge at $500 thousand dollars versus $300 thousand to build a new modular version. Members of St. Stephen Town Council were on hand.

Councillor Jim Maxwell spoke on stage saying we know you're not here to tell us you're tearing down that bridge.

New technology for the treatment of glaucoma, which was bought with the proceeds from last summer's Dragon Boat Festival, being rolled out at St. Joseph's Hospital in the Eye Clinic.

It's called the S-L-T machine or gentle laser and is a big improvement on what was used before. The S-L-T activates the pigment cells while the old laser treatment worked by punching holes and the gentler laser treatment can be repeated.

It takes six weeks to get the full effect and with the new treatment, people who had been using eye drops on a daily basis will no longer have to do so.

Dr. Chris Symonds says many people forget to take their drops on a daily basis or find it difficult and he warns damage from glaucoma is irreversible.

More charges of sexual assault have been laid against a doctor who has practiced medicine in the Saint John area for more than 25 years.

8 of 9 charges were laid a couple of days ago against Dr. Alan Cockeram, a gastroenterologist who has an office in the north end.

In response, Horizon Health has announced restrictions will be imposed on Dr. Cockeram when he treats female patients for an undetermined amount of time. No decision has been made on whether his license to practice medicine will be suspended.

A preliminary hearing on the charges will in June which will determine if there's enough evidence to warrant a trial.